MUNDIYERUMA: The Idukki revenue district cultural festival was halted for two hours after a section of teachers protested against beating up of a teacher on stage.

The participants and parents suffered as the group cut off the supply of food and water for about an hour and half as part of the protest.

Some DYFI members beat up A S Arun who is a member of KPSTA and a teacher at NRCT SNM HSS, on the festival stage at Kallar GHS on Wednesday night. The KPSTA, which is in charge of the food committee, responded to this incident by stopping the supply of food and staging a protest at the main venue.

Following this, the education deputy director A Abubeker, and Nedumkandam SI E K Solgimon held talks with the protesters. The protesters demanded the arrest of the people who attacked the teacher. The SI informed them that the police have filed a case and the culprits will be arrested soon.

It has also been decided to unofficially distribute food as per the request of DDE. The protesters had said that they would disrupt the festival if the culprits are not arrested within an hour. However, the KSTA and the school PTA said that they would conduct the festival even without the cooperation of anyone.

Meanwhile, the protesters held talks with the DDE again, and the festival restated again by around 11.00 am as the protesters agreed to cooperate after they were assured that the case would not be sabotaged.

The police have said that the DYFI members attacked the teacher as revenge for him waving a black flag at Minister M M Mani on April 30.